The Internet has become a global space for creativity, communication and participation. Online, we can create, share and use media content in a variety of ways and with very little effort. This is even more the case on social networks, where we can upload, forward, comment or promote content.

Internet users, and young people in particular, have a right to perceive their online interactions as benefitting from the freedom of expression and information. Consequently they should expect what is communicated online to be uncensored. However, reality tells us that the online world is also a space where the values of human rights are often ignored or violated. Among others, hate speech online has become a major form of human rights abuse, with very serious consequences for people, both online and offline. Young people are directly concerned as victims, targets, active and passive agents. But hate speech affects all of society.

"Hate speech, as defined by the Council of Europe, covers all forms of expression which spread, incite, promote or justify racial hatred, xenophobia, anti-Semitism or other forms of hatred based on intolerance, including: intolerance expressed by aggressive nationalism and ethnocentrism, discrimination and hostility against minorities, migrants and people of immigrant origin."

The whole project is a tribute to youth participation and co-management. It was born from a proposal of the youth representatives of the Advisory Council on Youth and was endorsed by the Joint Council on Youth, which brings together the members of the Advisory Council on Youth and the governmental youth representatives of the European Steering Committee on Youth. For more details on the project you can visit the Campaign coordination site.

The Internet has become a global space for creativity, communication and participation. Online, we can create, share and use media content in a variety of ways and with very little effort. This is even more the case on social networks, where we can upload, forward, comment or promote content.